Foraging

My bird (Meyer's) was very proactive about foraging, destroying a couple bags that held food, so I figured I'd let him do that intentionally.

My budgies like to get to the point, but I always set up some game for the linnie and Meyer's to find the food. I'll fold up paper (origami w/ no skill) and put food in the folds or hide some food in a toy. I had a few small boxes that my bird likes to get into, but they're getting to be chewed up a bit much. Plus the Meyer's has this habit of wanting to carry the boxes around and up onto his cage and either falling with it or just spilling all the food out.

I'm even mean enough to put a couple treats in one container and let him check a few until he hears the rattle of food one out of a few I put around him. It's very funny to watch.

It's a good idea when buying toys for parrots to look for things you can tuck food into. They love it that way and it's a good activity to keep them busy and thinking.

i use these fake fabric flowers that are mini sizes and stuff millet and seed between them.

Right! just thought of something i usually do for my guys, Get colored ad paper that contains no acid, cut it into squares, add some seed into the center and wrap it up like a candy is. My bigger guys love to try and get the food out. Not so much the budgies. Millet in them is a huge hit. i'll try and get some pictures of them shortly

I have several foraging toys that I swap around for Merlin and Emma. I stuff these with their favorites air popped popcorn , nuts , crackers.

I take different greens and weave them in the smaller bird cages. I am going to try the brown paper bag I know several of my birds will love it.

A very simple beginning foraging thing to do with small birds is use sheets of toilet paper and just lay on top of their seed or food. I sometimes tear it in bits and cover their food with the pieces and lay a whole single sheet on top. They have to toss that paper out to get to their food, which they can easily do , but is a good way to get them started on foraging.

Wow! Thanks for all of the ideas! I'll have to buy some cat balls and try your idea!

Mythara, what wonderful ideas. I don't have time right now to read them all but I will be back. The one I did click on "Pasta Seed Idea" was great.

Those are all great idea's! Thanks for sharing!

Fabulous link Mythara!:thumbsup: